<P>'Zap' by Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal<P>Photo: Nicole Rivelli<P><BR>Here is their <A HREF="http://balletsdemontreal.com" TARGET=_blank><B>website</B></A><P>[This message has been edited to remove dead link.]<p>[This message has been edited by Marie (edited April 05, 2002).]

From The Los Angeles Times:<P><BR><B>LES BALLET JAZZ DE MONTREAL ENERGIZED BY NEW DIRECTION</B><P><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Nearly 30 years after its founding, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal has seemingly been born anew. Louis Robitaille, who took over as artistic director in 1998, has infused the company, last seen by this reviewer nearly a decade ago, with fresh blood. Sexy choreography, indefatigable dancers and purposeful programming caused a sensation Thursday at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>[This message has been edited to remove dead link.]<P><BR><p>[This message has been edited by Admin (edited April 05, 2002).]

From Edmonton's Journal, 02/02/01:<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>Les Ballets Jazz redefining itself--<BR>'Jazz' no longer fits this evolving neo-classical troupe</B><P>What's in a name? For Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, more than a few contradictions. <P>Currently redefining itself as a contemporary, neo-classical ballet company, the jazz label just doesn't fit the way it once did. <P>"We've been questioning ourselves for two years about the name," admits artistic director Louis Robitaille. <P>The search for a public definition that suits the company is emblematic of the deeper changes at the company since Robitaille assumed leadership in 1998. In three years, it has whittled away at a $300,000 deficit, obtained several new ballets and been busy putting its touring reputation "back on track." <P>"Evolution would be the word," Robitaille says of the changes at Les Ballets Jazz. <P>"We would like to be a leader, in the sense of creation -- a leader that can show you what is contemporary dance in Canada now."<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><BR>[This message has been edited to remove dead link.]<P><BR><p>[This message has been edited by Admin (edited April 05, 2002).]

An interview with Louis Robitaille from See Magazine, 01/02/01:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal is no longer the jazz fusion company it was during the 1970s, under the directorship of founder Genevieve Salbaing and the directors of the school, Eva Von Gencsy and Eddy Toussaint. Today, Louis Robitaille, artistic director since 1998, is inching the company towards a different esthetic.<P>"Neoclassicism is the expression of tomorrow," the forthright Robitaille declares from a hotel room in Lethbridge, of all places, where the company is touring before its Feb. 2 and 3 Arden Theatre appearances. But the program for this tour suggests that the jazz component of the company name has not been forsaken completely. American Mia Michaels’ piece No Strings Attached and a break-dance solo clin d’oeil (wink) reads vernacular dance all over it. Rounding out the program is Patrick Delcroix’s première of Sous le rythme je . . . and Dominique Dumais’ series of duets entitled entre-deux.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><a href="http://www.greatwest.ca/see/Issues/2001/0201/stage4.htm" target="blank"><B>more...</B></a><P>

From the Los Angeles Times:<P><B>Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal: Contemporary Goes Primitive</B><P>By LEWIS SEGAL, Times Dance Critic<P><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Although its name continues to be Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, the dance company that Genevieve Salbaing founded in the early 1970s has grown away from the limitations of the ballet-jazz idiom toward mainstream modern dance. Like Hubbard Street dancers, the Canadians can still snap their fingers with the best of them, but are just as likely to emphasize sophisticated deployments of weight and spectacular articulations of the torso over the execution of steps.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><A HREF="http://www.calendarlive.com/top/1,1419,L-LATimes-Search-X!ArticleDetail-44923,00.html?search_area=Blended&channel=Search&search_text=%22Dance+Review%22" TARGET=_blank><B>MORE...</B></A><BR><p>[This message has been edited by Basheva (edited October 09, 2001).]

The review from NY:<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>A Stew of Choreographic Styles, Seasoned With Ingenuity<P>JACK ANDERSON, NY Times<P>Because ballet and jazz are arts always capable of renewing themselves, no one needs to worry about how neatly the offerings of Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal fit into either category.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P><a href=http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/07/arts/dance/07JAZZ.html target=_blank>More</a>

Susan Down - Victoria Times Colonist, 11.13.01:<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>Choreographer steps into spotlight</B><P>. . . Crystal Pite, the newly appointed resident choreographer for Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal. <P>The Victoria-born dancer returned to her native land in the summer after five years with Ballett Frankfurt in Germany. But her job as "resident" choreographer doesn't mean she'll live in Quebec. Although her commitment to BJM means she will create three new works for the company over the next three years, she has settled in Vancouver.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>[This message has been edited to remove dead link.]<P><p>[This message has been edited by Marie (edited April 05, 2002).]

<B>Canadian cool</B> <BR>Short preview From the Philippine Daily Inquirer<P><BR>"Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal's performance will be the highlight of a week-long celebration in Manila of a series of Canadian events titled 'A Glimpse of Canada,"' said Canadian Ambassador Robert Collette. "This celebration, and the performances of Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, highlight the growing cultural exchange and the bonds of friendship between Canada and the Philippines."<P><A HREF="http://globalarchive.ft.com/globalarchive/article.html?id=011118003387&query=ballet" TARGET=_blank><B>click for more</B></A>

MARITES CARINO - Montreal Mirror, 01.17.02:<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>2002 marks Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal’s “big three-oh” and the party is at L’Espace Go April 2–13. Their show Short Works: 1 2 3 takes a look at past, present and future choreographies.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>NB. A change of schedule, the dates are now April 3-13[/i]<P><BR>[This message has been edited to remove dead link.]<p>[This message has been edited by Admin (edited April 05, 2002).]

No Stuart, I won't see them til their show in April, but I'm looking forward to it!<P>William, Littler - Toronto Star, 02.20.02:<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>Les Ballets Jazz newly defined</B><P>I've never seen the dancers used more inventively than in this program and a talented, good looking ensemble they are, too.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>To read more go to the Entertainment section of the <A HREF="http://www.thestar.com/entertainment" TARGET=_blank><B>Toronto Star</B></A><BR>

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